Pastors should listen to this in order to reset their expectations for their ministries. Christians should listen to this in order to better understand the expectations they should have of their pastors and themselves. Both pastors and Christians put non-biblical expectations on pastors.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
The Leaven of the Pharisees: Hypocrisy - The Need to Kill It
I think it is clear that subversive behavior in the church is unacceptable as is self-serving behavior. Jesus' response to this hypocrisy is to deny subversive and self serving people before God. If you talk about others in the church behind their backs plotting or wishing their fall, if you secretly hope that they will be caught in an embarrassing or damaging error or sin, then you are a subversive. If your actions in the church are designed to promote you and/or your agenda or to secure you with the things you want, then you are self serving.
Jesus saw both of these types of behaviors in the Pharisees and described it as leaven, something of which we should beware. Paul said leaven in the church should be removed otherwise it will infect the whole church (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
In the church we should beware of the sin of hypocrisy, which is the word Jesus uses to describe this subversive and self serving behavior, and we should kill. We should kill it in our own lives and the church. If you let a self serving attitude grow in your heart, you will become a subversive person. The end result of this is that you will likely infect the whole church making it sick and find yourself denied by Christ before God.
"Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." (Luke 12:1)
Friday, October 23, 2009
"John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God" by John Piper
I just finished reading "John Calvin and His Passion for the Majesty of God" by John Piper. I wanted to share some thoughts from the book.
Piper's purpose is to demonstrate that it was in fact Calvin's discovery of the Majesty of God in God's Word that served as the irresistible force behind Calvin's entire life. He seems to have been a singularly focused man. I say that he was driven by an irresistible force because that seems to be how Calvin understood it. He believed that God wants us to see His majesty above all other things. That is why God told Moses to tell the Israelites "my name is 'I am'". The point in this revelation is to demonstrate that, as Piper puts it, "The absoluteness of God's existence enthralls the mind" and the mind should be enthralled by God.
Calvin understood that he would never see the majesty of God; his mind would never be enthralled by God, if God, through the Holy Spirit, did not persuade him. This persuasion was rooted in the Holy Spirit awakening him, as if from the dead, to see the divine reality of God as revealed in scripture. It is only through the Word of God that a person can be saved, but a person cannot trust the Word of God if in it, he or she does not see the majesty of God, and in order to see the majesty of God, the Spirit must awaken the person as if from the dead.
The irresistible force comes into play at this point. Calvin believed that when awakened by the Spirit a person will simply recognize the majesty of God, and without any reasoning or prior consideration, that person will embrace Christ, and his mind will be enthralled by the majesty of God. He will be consumed by a need to display the majesty of God.
Where this leads me personally is to a reflection on my own desire to display the majesty of God. Why does it sometimes flow and sometimes ebb? I reflect on John 15 and realize that it flows when I abide in Christ, it ebbs when I abide outside of Christ. And so my prayer becomes, 'God, help me to abide always in Christ.'
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Overcoming Sin - Audio Version
This is the audio version of my earlier post concerning what the Bible tells us about overcoming sin. I hope it is a blessing to you.
Blessings, Mark
Overcoming Sin
Do you ever wonder how to go about "overcoming sin"? We are told in Romans that we are to "not let sin reign" in our mortal body so that we "obey its lusts." (Romans 6:12). But, how do you do that. How do you stop sin from reigning supreme in you?
Before you say, "Well, Paul was special, he had it better, he was closer to Jesus, it was easier for him", don't forget Paul is the one who talked about the war inside him between the flesh that wanted to sin and the spirit that wanted to obey God. He needed an answer to this question just as much as you and I need an answer. So, what is the answer.
First, there is a very practical answer in scripture. Flee temptation! Our pastor is always telling us that we should resist the devil, but flee temptation. We cannot resist temptation; we will loose. The bible does not tell us that God has given us a way to resist temptation. No, it tells us that He gives us a way to escape it. So the very practical means for "overcoming sin" is fleeing temptation.
Nevertheless, you might ask, 'How do I do this? Temptation is a strong lure, it is enticing, and I have a difficult time fleeing from it. What can I do?' Here is where your mind comes into play. You overcome sin when your mind tells your heart the truth. Listen to Paul.
Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead is never to die again; death no longer is master over him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:6-11)Notice that our belief about who we are is influenced by what we know. We believe we are alive in Christ, because we know we were crucified with Him. We also believe or consider that we are dead to sin because with Christ we died to sin, and sin no longer has mastery over us. Knowledge of who you are in Christ is the key to overcoming sin. The more you understand who you are in Christ, the more you will live like that person. In other words if you know you are dead to sin, you can believe that sin is no longer your master, and therefore, you are empowered by your knowledge to flee temptation and thus overcome sin.
May God grant us a clear knowledge of who we are in Christ, and may that knowledge empower us to overcome sin.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tony Rose: LaGrange Baptist Church - "Living a Faith Focused Life" Sermon on October 11, 2009
Living A Faith Focused Life by Tony Rose, Pastor
Download now or listen on posterous
Living_a_Faith_Focused_Life_10-11-2009.mp3 (10280 KB) Download now or listen on posterous
A sermon from by Tony Rose on Numbers 13:25-14:4 about the need for God's people to have a "Faith Focused Life" or a "God Orientation" so that we will believe God and obey him.
You can also watch and listen to the sermon at the LBC website.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Influence: Connecting with People
I wanted to share this article with you because it points to some very important concepts about leadership. I found the 1st and 3rd principles influential for me.
Leadership is developed in others through relationships, and a good leader develops relationships. A good leader will also seek to develop others in leadership who don't necessarily show the initiative to becoming leaders.
Enjoy!
Influence: Connecting with PeopleBy Dr. John C. Maxwell
As a train's source of energy and direction, the locomotive plays a vital role. However, unless a locomotive connects to other cars on the track, it is relatively useless. A train's value comes from its ability to transport massive amounts of cargo, and doing so requires the locomotive to link up with dozens of freight cars. Traveling by itself, a locomotive would arrive at its destination empty-handed. In that case, its journey would be nothing more than a waste of fuel.
Leaders are like locomotives in that they're blessed with drive, energy, and vision. However, until leaders learn the art of connection, their influence remains minimal. In isolation, their talents accomplish little, and their efforts are squandered.
Let's look at practical ways whereby leaders can make meaningful connections with others.
8 Steps for Connecting with People
#1 Don't Take People for Granted
Weak leaders get so caught up in the vision of where they're going that they forget whom they're trying to lead. Instead, leaders would be wise realize that connecting to people and developing them are the surest ways to gain influence. Results happen through relationships.
#2 Possess a Difference-Maker Mindset
A hesitant and indecisive leader doesn't enliven the hearts or imaginations of people. On the contrary, leaders who influence and inspire have a difference-maker mindset. They connect with others by passing along an infectious confidence in their ability to succeed.
#3 Initiate Movement Toward People
Freight cars sitting on the railroad tracks won't go anywhere by themselves. They will rust and collect dust unless a locomotive makes contact and connects to them. Similarly, most people stay parked due to self-doubt, fear, or absence of vision. It takes the connection of a leader to tap into their potential and rouse them to action.
#4 Search for Common Ground
Anytime you want to connect with a person, the starting point should be shared interests. If you're attentive to the hobbies, histories, and habits of those you lead, then you will find ample areas of common ground. Launch out from these areas of agreement to build rapport.
#5 Recognize and Respect Differences
We are capable of finding common ground with others, but at the same time we need to acknowledge that we're all different. The greatest influencers realize that differences ought to complement rather than clash. When you demonstrate regard for diverse personalities and meet people on their terms, they will appreciate your sensitivity and connect with the understanding you've shown.
#6 Learn the Key to Others' Lives
People have core motivations that vary drastically, and a leader has to discern them to forge a connection with others. Generally, the key can be unearthed by examining what a person has already done in life and by discovering what he or she aspires to do in the future. Once you've found the key, do not exploit it. Turn the key only when you have the person's permission, and always use it for his or her benefit - not your own.
#7 Communicate from the Heart
Nothing repels people like a phony leader. Be authentic when you speak, and align your actions and words. People respond to passion, and they will latch onto a vision when it's communicated directly from the heart.
#8 Share Common Experiences
Shared experiences cement a relationship. For this reason, it's wise to be intentional about eating out with teammates, inviting them to join you on an errand, or taking in a play or ballgame together. The more time you invest in those you lead, the greater the connection you will forge with them.
Summary
One is too small of a number to achieve greatness. No one ever accomplishes alone what he can do in partnership with others. If you're looking to grow as an influencer, start by strengthening your connections with the people around you.
Link to orginal article: http://www.giantimpact.com/articles/read/article_influence_connecting_with_people/?utm_source=leadershipwired&utm_medium=email&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=lw-20090421#
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